Device for dislodging matter from valves in water-supply systems.



J. CONWAY. DEVICE POB. DISLODGING MATTER FROM VALVES IN WATER SUPPLY SYSTEMS.

APPLICATION IILEDAPR. 14, 1908.

Patented Feb. 9, 1909.

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y JESSE CONWAY, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.

DEVCE FOR DISLODGXNG- MATTER FROM VALVES IN WATER-SUPPLY SYSTEMS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 9, 1909.

Application filed April 14, 1968. Serial No. 426,981.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that l, Jnssn CONWAY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Baltimore, in the State of Maryland, have invented certain new and useful improvements in Devices for lislodging Matter from Valves in Water-Supply Systems, of which the iollowing is a specification.

This invention relates to a device for prop ducing in Water-pipes a sudden shocl accompanied by great momentary pressure for the purpose of dislodging ohstructicns at the'intersection of a branch-pipe with an underground main-pipe. r

Considerable trouble isV experienced in large cities by the stopping up of tne branch pipes leading from the mains to buildings in the water-supply system. In a large proportion of caseswhere water-is accidentally obstructed from a building it will be found that the valve interposed between the main and the branch pipe is clogged at the main side thereof,-sometimes by grass'cr other foreign matter and occasionally by a iish, coming in contact with the end of the valve and held there by the pressure oi the Water. a very difficult matter to dislodge any substance from these' valveswithout interrupting the flow of Water through the main because of the great pressure of the water in the main at the clogged up side of the valve and the tendency of said pressure to hold the obstructing matter in the valve. Moreover, if the attempt is made to open these valves Without cutting off the supplyto the main the slightest o ening made through the foreign matter Wll permit the water to escape before the valve is fully cleaned and further cleaning of thev valve is interfered with by the esca v ing-water. Furthermore the pressure on t e main side of the valve is often too great to be overcome by an ordinary hand pump. Y 1

The object therefore of invention iste provide an improved device that may be attached at a suitable and convenient vpoint in the branch pipe and which will enablea sudden shock accompanied byk great momentary pressure to be produced in the'branch pipe on the building side ofthe valve and thereby drive from the valve anything that may have found lodffment therein. With this object in view tne accompanying drawing g illustrates the invention 1n which- Figure 1 illustrates a cross sectional view through a Water main with the branch pipe p lt isV leading to a building and valve controlling the same. l`` 1g. 2 shows a sect1onal view through `a water mam at the point Where the valve and branch pipe leads therefrom andv also shows my improved device attached to the branch side of the valve ready for operation, and ig. 3 illustrates a longitudinal sectional view through the improved devicefthe parts thereof being shown in the position they have when in readiness for operation.

Referring to the drawing the numeral, 1, designates the main or supply pipe of an underground water-pipe system and, 3, thc stop cock or valve controlling the passage of water to theI branch pipe that leads to a building.l rlhe cock or valve, 3, is usually provided with a plug, 4, at its inner end which has a plurality of cross-slits, 5, which serve as a strainer or guard to prevent the passage .of foreign matter or fish from the main into the branch pipe, and it is these slits, 5, that generally become clogged or against Which a fish may lodge and thereby entirely cut-olf or reduce the llow ci water through the valve into the branch pipes which latter are usually constructed direct to the cock or valve. W hen this occurs the valve or cock must be reached and the underground branch pipe disconnected during the cleaning operation and as heretofore stated the pressure on the main-pipe side or strainer side of the valve is usually so great that it has not been found practical to properly clean the same Without cutting off the supply to the main which is a serious proposition to property holders. By my invention however l am enabled to dislodge from the underground valve any matter that may have accumulated there by causing in the branch side of the valve a sudden shock accom anied by momentary pressure that will dis odge such matter and effect a thorough' cleansing of the valve.

The improved device may be attached di- Y rectly to the valve or cock, 3, or it may be attached at some more convenient point in the branch pipe as for example' at the point where the branch enters the building. The particular point of attachment however is limmaterial although in the drawing the improved device is shownV attached directly to the valve, 3, vwhich is the connection between the branch and main pipes. In the present instance the shock and momentarypressure-producing device comprises a cylinder, 6, having at one end a coupling, 7, by -Which a fluid-tight attachment may be made as stated, either to the branch-pipe or to said valve, 3. it the other end oi the cylinder is a stuiiing box, 8, through which a stem or rod, 9, is movable longitudinally the inner end of the stem carries a piston, l0, that is solid or without openings or valves, and this piston rits snugly in the cylinder. The stuifing box, 8, may be readily removed from the cylinder in order to permit the stem and piston, 10, to be withdrawn when desired. lhe outer end oi the stem, 9, is provided with a solid metal head, 13, to give it the strength necessary to receive a blow without breal'ing, when it is strucl with a heavy mallet or sledge-hammer as herein described.

To prevent injury to either the piston, i0, or the valve-case, 3, by the blow referred to, the exposed part et the stem, 9, is provided With an elastic cushion, le, which surrounds the stem and is interposed between the solid head, 13, and the stuiing befr, 8.

l provide the cylinder, with small l-:eyvalve, l2, which may be readily turned with the thumb and lingers. 'lhis valve serves to test whether or not the water in the cylinder is under pressure. By opening the valve any Water in the cylinder, ii under pressure, Would squirt out in a stream that is projected by reason of such pressure 5 but it there is no pressure in the cylinder the water would merely trickle out slowly.

W hen about to use th improved device to remove an obstruction in the main-pipe located at the valve, 3, it is preferable to in turn the key, l5, el the said valve, 3, to the cut-olaf position. Alter the watei from the mainpipe, i, has thus been cut-oil", the branch-pipe, which ordinarily will be attached directly to the valve, 3, and leads inte a building, may be disconnected troni the said valve and instead the improved dev e attached thereto by means oi' the coupling, 7. Il' at this time the stem, 9, and piston, l0, have not previously been removed l'rem the cylinder, they should new be withdrawn by removing the stuiling bex, 3, so as to gain access to the cyl" ider at the upper end. 'lie testvalve, l2,i\- lnewbeclescd a dwatemil be poured into the upper open en l el' the cylinder until the latter is 'Filled-the column Water extending l" the vai e ceciY trom up to the open end o'll the cyind column of liquid i'erms an import nt el in the operation of the device in that it be the medium between the piston, 1Q, and the foreign matter at the valve or ceci* 'l'or ting thus been nd stem* Q,

effecting a dielodgment of the obstruc matter. After the cylinder has illed with liquid the piston, l@ are inserted in the upper end o Yand held at said end wliie the st screwed into piace, which preven ne escape of the liquid Vfrom the cylinder se that the piston will be sustained by the coluirn el Water. The mere turning of the hey, l5, in

the valve or coclr to the open position, will now put the device in readiness lor operation. A heavy inallot er Sledge hammer is new employed to produce a blow on the head, lf3, ol' stem, El, and the downward plunge oll the piston on the column el' liquid will produce a tremendous sudden shock accompanied by momentary pressure on the branch side oli the open valve, 3, and dislodge anything that may have clogged the valve, thus Vlore-ing said matter l'rom the valve and against the pressure that may oxist in the iii-in pipe so as to entirely l'roo the valve er coca troni the obstruction. All r a blow made with a mailet or hammer on the head, l5, the test valve, l2, may ho opened te ascertain 'il'A the pressure ol' the main pipo, l., is teit in the cylinder, (5. ll' no pressure is shown the tcst-valve mus bo closed and another blow struck.

Having thus described my invention what l claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is,-

l. fi device l'or disledfginn obstructions in water-pipes comprisingl the combination with an underground nuria-supply pipe and a branch-valve communicatino` ith said main pipe, eil a cylinde: ha ig ns open ond altached to and in comi unication with the branch side el' said va fe; a tosti valve attached te the cyiinde in inmorl'oml o piston movable in said cylinder which latter is adapted to contain a. column ol' wat er bci' 'woon the piston and the said branch valve; a stom attached to tl. piston and projecting l'rom and provided at its outer end ivd, whereby a blow may be strut-li with a manet or hammer on the head ol' the projecting stein te produce a sudden shock which will dislodge anything clogging the main-grupo side el the said branch-vaive.

2. il device 'l'or pr i=during in water-pipes sudden sheclrs accompanied by momentary pr Issure, comprising the combination with an inidcrground main-supply pipo and a l nch valve communicating with said main .jpeg el' a cy 'nder having its open end atin testimony whereof l aili; my signature in presence el two witnesses.

JESS? CONdU lllitnesses:

CHARLES B. MANN, Jr., G. FERDINAND Voor. 

